I am Bobby Fouther, a Visual and Performing artist. I was born and raised in the NW as a second generation Oregon artist. I am inspired by everything from birth too death and my passions are painting, photography, dance theatre and graphics, For many years, as a Portland State University faculty member and Oregon Ballet outreach instructor I used my love for dance to spread the joy of cultural movement throughout the northwest. I love creating visions on the stage and on a canvas. My training came from some of the most gifted local and international mentors a young artist could ever have.
Over the past 50 years Portland, Oregon is where I have invested my talent and income because in my heart it felt necessary. My newest residency is at Helensview School an alternative space for students like me who search to find their voice. I feel the community learning processes being left out of a young persons nurturing should not require a special form of funding and my community invested in me.
Spirit of Portland, Independent Spirit Award and Lowenstein Trust Award recipient are only a few of my recognitions. I have served as an artist-in education for statewide artist residency programs and in many capacities on programs sponsored by the Oregon, Washington and Idaho Arts Commissions and the National Endowment for the Arts. I have also shared my expertise on curriculum development committees for the Children’s Museum, The World Affair’s Council of Oregon, Portland Public Schools and White Bird Dance.
Currently I am a member on the boards of Young Musicians and Artists and Echo Theatre Company along with serving on the Justice Within Reach Committee of MRG (an agency for social change) for my 11th year. I am a current member of the International Association of Blacks in Dance and I also have a commissioned work hanging in the Multnomah County's Office of Diversity and Equity as a part of the Regional Arts and Culture Council's Portable Works Collection.
Through it all the most cherished and valuable power given to me by my mentors was the wisdom to pass it on.
Bobby Fouther joined Fine Art America on December 3rd, 2017.
